Chapter 144

(Eyes hurt, forced to write a chapter, just read it roughly, will revise tomorrow.)

After entering September, the night was cool as water.

Jiang Zhan's heart now likewise lacked warmth; each step he lifted felt extremely heavy.

The old manor in the night was like a huge open net, waiting for him to wander into it.

Jiang Zongbao was quite relaxed, walking and saying: "Second Lang, actually Cousin Hao is also quite good; aside from being a bit sturdier, a bit uglier, and a bit fiercer in temperament, there's nothing else to fault."

Jiang Zhan remained silent.

Seeing him like that, it was obvious he was still unwilling; Jiang Zongbao then continued to persuade.

"Think about your elder sister-in-law Du Shi; she was just as ugly and fat back then, look how good-looking she is now. Maybe once Cousin Hao enters the door, she could turn from a sow into a beauty like Diaochan, and then you'll be blessed."

"Is that so?" Jiang Zhan chuckled, "If that's the case, cousin, why don't you marry?"

Jiang Zongbao choked up: "……"

He certainly couldn't marry her; Hao Jinzhi's physique, and my own—if that fellow pressed down on me, I could lose half my life.

Besides, when remarrying, shouldn't one marry a beauty? At the very least, one shouldn't be worse than Qin Shi.

"Ah, I would like to, but your aunt just passed away not long ago; if I remarried so quickly, people might stab me in the back behind my back."

Jiang Zhan smirked, curling his lip, and didn't respond further.

It was only a quarter hour before reaching the old manor; Cao Shi came over holding a lamp to open the door.

"Second Lang has come?" Cao Shi, usually sharp-tongued, was now much kinder: "Your grandmother is waiting; hurry and go see her."

The more she acted this way, the more suspicious Jiang Zhan felt.

Since we've come, we're definitely going in.

Jiang Zhan called out "Elder Aunt," then lifted his foot and entered the house.

Inside the house it was pitch black and deathly silent, with no sign of life, like a haunted house.

Ghosts aren't really scary; what's scary is the human heart.

"Second Lang, come in." A few coughs sounded from the main room, and Yan Pozi's hoarse voice reached Jiang Zhan's ears.

Jiang Zhan lifted the cloth curtain and walked in.

Yan Pozi lay askew on the carved redwood bed, a headband tied on her forehead, looking exhausted and weak.

A stool was placed before the bed.

Jiang Zhan stepped forward, his tone concerned: "Grandmother, what illness do you have? Have you seen a doctor?"

"It's the middle of the night; where would we find a doctor?" Yan Pozi sighed, saying, "You know our village only has one old doctor; he was earlier sent to jail by your elder sister-in-law Du Shi. Now whenever villagers have a headache or fever, they must go to the town clinic—it's really inconvenient."

Jiang Zhan gave an "oh," saying, "Grandmother means that the old doctor getting what he deserves is fine, but he's brought disaster upon our village; merely imprisoning him is indeed too lenient."

Cough, cough—Yan Pozi began coughing violently.

"This little white-eyed wolf can't understand human speech, right? Is that what she meant? That eye medicine was clearly for Du Shi!"

A top county scholar, and this is his level?

Yan Pozi finally caught her breath, pointing at the stool: "Sit down, let's have a good chat, grandmother and grandson."

Jiang Zhan obediently sat down and took the lead in bringing up the topic.

"According to cousin, you know my mother's origins?"

"Yes, I know a little; you've grown up and accomplished things, and some matters should be told to you." Yan Pozi paused before continuing, "Your mother… actually came from a servant background."

"Servant?" Jiang Zhan snapped his eyes up.

He didn't believe it.

Although Mother had lost her earlier memories, she is skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; though not masterful, it's clear she received specialized instruction.

Which master would go to such trouble for a servant?

Yan Pozi narrowed her old eyes and began to recall past events.

That was twenty-four years ago, the ninth year of Fengxi; that year Jiang Mo Nian was seventeen, already beginning to stand out, placing first in the county, prefectural, and academy exams—what is commonly called the "little triple crown."

That year the threshold of the house was worn out by matchmakers; many people vied to form marriage ties with the Jiang family.

Even the headmaster of Xiushan Academy took a liking to him, intending to secure him as a prestigious son-in-law.

Who would have thought that one day Jiang Mo Nian would suddenly bring back from outside a dirty, wounded girl, saying he had bought her from a slave trader?

That girl only knew her surname was Su; she didn't remember her given name, where she was from, or how she ended up in the slave trader's hands.

She had originally tried to escape, but was caught by the slave trader and nearly beaten to death.

Jiang Mo Nian happened to encounter her, felt compassion, and rescued her.

The slave trader told Jiang Mo Nian that the girl was a servant from a wealthy household, very diligent, but had been sold by her master due to a mistake.

Later that girl resided in the Jiang household; the two young people grew fond over time and became husband and wife.

After that, Jiang Zhan also knows what happened.

Father gave Mother the name Jade Cicada, symbolizing the cicada shedding its impurity, floating beyond dust, untouched by worldly grime.

Father always said with a smile, the cicada never dies; even if buried underground in winter, when spring arrives and flowers bloom, it is the day of rebirth.

Alas, Mother ultimately died……

Jiang Zhan struggled to dispel the longing and sorrow in his heart, stood up, and said, "Thank you, grandmother, for telling me all this; it's getting late, I won't disturb your rest—I'll head back first."

Saying that, he turned to leave.

Yan Pozi reached out to grab him but missed; her eyes rolled, and she began to wail.

The door curtain was lifted, and Jiang Lian'er entered, holding two bowls—one of water, one of medicine.

"Grandmother, are you feeling unwell again?" Jiang Lian'er handed the water to Jiang Zhan, then hurried to support Yan Pozi: "This is the calming medicine the old doctor previously prescribed; there's a little left, grandmother, please drink it quickly."

After Yan Pozi finished drinking, she turned her head toward Jiang Zhan, smiling, and said, "Second Cousin Brother, you should drink too; I specially added sugar, otherwise it'll get cold and taste bad."

Jiang Zhan lowered his head to look at the water.

He doesn't know if the water has a problem, but it's obvious that the person has a problem.

From top to bottom, including Yan Pozi, Cao Shi, Jiang Zongbao and Jiang Lian'er siblings, everyone is off.

Jiang Zhan put the water on the stool and smiled, saying, "Lian'er sister, thank you for your trouble, but I never like sweet drinks; you might as well keep it for yourself."

"What do you mean?" Jiang Lian'er was unhappy, "I welcomed you with good intentions, and you won't even give me face?"

Jiang Zhan couldn't be bothered with her, turned and left.

Just as he lifted the curtain and poked half his body out, a large hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed his throat.

Jiang Zhan's eyes widened, he reached out desperately to pry it off but couldn't budge it; immediately, a foul-smelling cloth was clamped over his mouth and nose.

It's over, I've been caught by the Dao!

The surroundings began to sway, and his eyelids grew heavy.

He finally couldn't hold on and slowly slid to the ground.

At the moment he fell, Jiang Zhan vaguely saw a familiar, agile black shadow leap in over the outer courtyard wall.

He then fainted with relief.

"Good thing I made two preparations, otherwise I wouldn't have caught this kid." Jiang Zongbao strutted out of the east wing, kicking Jiang Zhan on the ground.

Hao Jinzhi shoved him away with one hand, her face cold, saying, "What are you doing? Try moving him again and see if I don't break your leg."

Jiang Zongbao chuckled.

"Yo, you haven't even married yet and you're already protecting her. I'm telling you, Cousin Hao, don't forget that this medicine I bought cost a fortune; you should be thanking me."

Hao Jinzhi carefully helped Jiang Zhan onto a nearby stool, turned to look at Jiang Zongbao, and said, "One thing at a time—I'll naturally repay you the money; but my man, nobody is allowed to touch him!"

Jiang Zongbao was about to say more when Jiang Lian'er came out supporting Yan Pozi.

"The matter isn't settled yet—what are you arguing about?" Yan Pozi said with a grim face.

She first glanced at Jiang Zhan to confirm he had passed out, then asked Jiang Zongbao, "How long does this medicine last?"

Jiang Zongbao thought and said, "That person told me it would be about four hours."

Four hours… Yan Pozi carefully calculated and told Hao Jinzhi, "Wait until midnight, then you and Jiang Zongbao take the person to the grain-drying field and follow the plan."

Hao Jinzhi hesitated, "Auntie, are you sure we should do this? What if it affects Jiang Zhan's future…"

"Hao Jinzhi, you don't really think you can become an official's wife, do you?"

Yan Pozi snorted, "Don't daydream. Yes, Jiang Zhan might really pass the Advanced Scholar exam and become an official, even a high official. But the more so, the less your wife of humble origins will be able to hold her head up in society."

"By then he will surely kick you out, which would still be the better outcome; but if some noble lady from a prestigious family takes a fancy to him, it won't be as simple as just divorcing you—you might not even keep your life!"

Hao Jinzhi's eyes flickered, "What do you mean, Auntie?"

"What I mean is, let's simply take this opportunity to cut off his future."

Yan Pozi carefully explained to her, "Once things blow up tomorrow, he, as the County Top Scholar, will naturally have no face to show people, and afterwards he'll only be able to stay at home as an idle small landlord. Anyway, the Second Branch of the Jiang Family has plenty of silver—you'll never spend it all in your lifetime, you'll have money and a man, and you won't have to worry about being divorced, which is no worse than being an official's wife."

Hao Jinzhi thought it made sense.

She knows her own appearance well; given Jiang Zhan's looks and ability, once he passes the Advanced Scholar exam, those nobles will surely snatch him away as a son-in-law.

By then she would end up with neither person nor wealth.

"Alright, then let's do as Auntie said."

Inside, they were discussing heatedly; outside, at the base of the wall, a black shadow silently leapt away.

He ran all the way and soon reached the Second Branch of the Jiang Family.

He likewise jumped in.

Du Ruo had already been waiting in the courtyard; seeing the dog return, she hurriedly asked, "How is it? Is Jiang Zhan alright?"

The dog barked a few times and then struck a pose of falling over.

"You mean Jiang Zhan fainted?"

Du Ruo panicked, turned and ran toward the door, "No way, I have to go check and bring him back!"

But the dog grabbed her skirt with its mouth and whined, lifting its head.

Du Ruo indicated she didn't understand.

Although she could communicate simply with the dog, she ultimately didn't understand dog language, and it was too complicated anyway.

"Never mind, let me translate for you." The system sighed in his mind, "Your dog says Jiang Zhan was drugged by people from the main branch; they plan to take him to the grain-drying field and have him get intimate with Hao Jinzhi, creating the false impression of a clandestine meeting. This way, whether he wants to or not, he'll have to marry her."

So the main branch had this idea all along.

Hehe, Du Ruo gave a cold laugh, truly despicable and shameless!

"Ding—new task launched! As the saying goes, a good horse needs a good saddle, a good woman needs a good man; Hao Jinzhi and Jiang Zongbao are like a pot lid and a ladle—a perfect match for marriage! Please, host, find a way to kindle their past-life karmic bond; upon success you will receive 30 points as a reward!"